Archives: May2017

Chalmette Man Booked With Attempted Murder, Flight From An Officer

St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said a Chalmette man was arrested and marijuana, narcotics and a large amount of cash was seized, along with a loaded magazine clip, after he took deputies on a high speed pursuit through Arabi and Chalmette.

Tyrin Wiltz, 22, who resides in the 3500 block of Laplace Street in Chalmette, was booked with two counts of attempted first degree murder and aggravated flight from an officer after he struck with his vehicle a patrol car driven by a deputy involved in the pursuit, and attempted to strike a second patrol car during the incident, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Wiltz also was booked with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, two counts of possession of schedule four Alprazolam, and possession of drug paraphernalia. A Taurus .45 caliber handgun magazine clip, containing seven .45 caliber rounds, and $3,736 in cash, also were recovered.

On Saturday, May 6, at 2:46 a.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call of a man sleeping in a vehicle while stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of West Judge Perez Drive and Rowley Boulevard in Arabi.

When deputies arrived on the scene and attempted to wake the man, later identified as Wiltz, he fled from deputies in his car, heading west on Judge Perez Drive, fleeing through neighboring Arabi subdivisions and into Chalmette.

While deputies were in pursuit, Wiltz was traveling at a high rate of speed down neighborhood streets, driving through traffic cones, and disregarding stop signs and traffic signals at Paris Road in Chalmette. Wiltz struck one of the patrol units in pursuit near the intersection of Evangeline Drive and Patricia Street in Chalmette, causing damage to the left side of the unit.

Sheriff Pohlmann said Wiltz lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree in the 1200 block of East Genie Street in Chalmette where he tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended by deputies.

Wiltz is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $150,000 bond.

More than 100 pounds of medication collected at St. Bernard Drug Take-Back Day

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Lt. Ricky Jackson, an officer with the Special Investigations Division’s FBI Task Force, left, and Sheriff’s Office Lt. Pat Childress, an officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Task Force, right, with one of the eight boxes of unused medication surrendered by residents at the Sheriff’s Office’s Drug Take-Back Day held April 29 in Arabi.

Weighing one of the eight boxes of unused and unwanted medication surrendered at the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Drug Take-Back Day held April 29 are, from left: St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Pat Childress, an officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Task Force; Alan Clesi, a diversion investigator with the Drug Enforcement Administration; and St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Lt. Ricky Jackson, an officer with the Special Investigations Division’s FBI Task Force.

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Pat Childress, an officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Task Force, helps a resident dropping off unwanted medication at the Sheriff’s Office’s Drug Take-Back Day held April 29 in Arabi.

St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said more than 100 pounds of unwanted drugs were collected at the Sheriff’s Office’s Drug Take-Back Day held April 29 in Arabi.

In just four hours, narcotics agents at the Sheriff’s Office substation located at 7001 W. Judge Perez Drive accepted 110 pounds of unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from residents. The purpose of the Drug Take-Back is to ensure the medication doesn’t fall into the wrong hands and also so it can be disposed of properly.

“This program has been a very useful tool for us in ensuring unused medications don’t end up being misused by someone or sold illegally on the street,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “It also helps prevent residents from throwing unwanted medications in the garbage or down the toilet where it can end up negatively impacting our environment.’’

The Drug Take-Back initiative, part of a national effort spearheaded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, has seen more than 4.8 million pounds of prescription drugs collected since its inception in 2010. The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office began its own program prior to the DEA starting the national program.

St. Bernard residents who were unable to attend the local take-back event can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-DOPE or 3673 at any time to speak with a deputy about surrendering unwanted medications, Sheriff Pohlmann said. A narcotics officer will return the call and make arrangements to collect and destroy the drugs.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office accepting applications for Reserve Division deputies

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for Reserve Division volunteer officers to supplement its regular force of sheriff’s deputies, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“Our Reserve Division plays an important role in supplementing our police force in specific situations, including working during large scale events such as festivals, parades and athletic events throughout the parish,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “ Many have gone on to become full-time, paid sheriff’s deputies and are still with us.”

Capt. Charles Borchers, commander of the Reserve Division, said reserve officers are unpaid, volunteer deputies.

“You do not need a background in law enforcement,” Borchers said. “We provide all training and supply uniforms as well.”

To apply, Borchers said a person must meet the following criteria:

-Live in St. Bernard Parish
-Be at least 21 years old
-Have earned a high school diploma or GED
-Have a clean police record; background checks will be conducted.

For more information, or to obtain an application, contact Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Sgt. Eric Eilers at (504) 278-7799.